Go ahead–look straight ahead. Look up; look down. Look to your right then your left. Swivel around and take a look behind you.

Every single thing you see?

Will be gone someday.

Everything changes. Nothing stays the same. Sometimes plans don’t work out. People are not always loving and loyal. These are life’s givens.

Think they don’t apply to you at your own peril.

In the end, our triumphs and our failures probably won’t matter all that much. Whether or not we stuck handstand in the middle of the room will fall away. What shall remain is the love we’ve given away.

It’s a mad mission.

In a world of impermanence, we continue to make plans. In a world in which it may not matter if we ever stick handstand, we continue to try. In a world of disappointment, we dare to hope again. In a world in which someone might not love us back, or enough, or the way we wish they would, we continue to fall in love, and to love mightily.

In my book, that makes us heroes.

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About Bernadette Birney

Bernadette Birney is a dyed-in-the-wool, freedom-loving tantrika. When she’s not busy conquering the world, taking hostages, feverishly freelancing, working on her book, and posting on-line essays, you can find her practicing the art of life-on-purpose, and teaching in Connecticut. / Bernadette has had the good fortune of studying with the great ones: she’s a certified Anusara yoga instructor, and has long pestered her Rajanaka Yoga mentor, Douglas Brooks. Known for her poetic and precise articulation, she insists that you can maintain a hard-core yoga practice and a sense of humor, too. Her classes, immersions and trainings are steeped in a life affirming philosophy that will invite you into the exploration of your own potential. / Bernadette was one of the earliest Certified Anusara yoga instructors in CT, and continues to mentor the local teaching community, leading trainings and retreats. She has contributed to Yoga Journal, Fit Yoga, Elephant Journal and Srividyalaya Amrta. She is also a Lululemon ambassador, and the author of the quirky, award-winning blog berniebirney.com .

That's so creative, Bob! I love that you took the time to play. Would you believe that I as a (sort of) poetry major in college?! I keep meaning to get back to poetry. Let me think about whether I want this to be my first poetic stab. xo